‘Remember The Alamo’, the new album from Free Willy, is a collection of twelve tracks in Americana, alt country, and bluegrass styles. The quartet hails from Crockett, Texas, and comprises WB Jones on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Jim Taylor on bass and backing vocals; Spence Peppard on lead guitar, drums, and backing vocals, as well as lead vocals on ‘American Medley’; Kevin Carter on fiddle and mandolin, and Steve DeVries on banjo and harmonica.
Originally formed in the autumn of 2016 at The Mixing Room, a recording studio in Nacogdoches, Texas. WB Jones contacted Jim Taylor at the studio in order to record some songs he’d been writing over many years, and together they gathered to them the best performing and recording artists in East Texas. Jim also produced the album, bringing to life WB Jones’ vision of creating the “Free Willy Sound” – the lead instruments play “over top of each other” on the breaks, rather than take turns, and to inject lead breaks throughout the songs, including the vocals.
What is truly lovely about this album is the overall “happy” ness of it. It’s upbeat, it’s fun; the fiddle, mandolin, and banjo all work together to give the songs a very pleasing feel, which is complemented further by the soft vocals.
Our favourites on the album are the more bluegrass style numbers; we especially loved ‘Amazing Gracie’, which is perfectly placed as the lead track. The instrumental ‘Sugar Baby’ also rates a mention, as it demonstrates the techincal skills and talents of all the artists.
You can find out more about Free Willy online on their official website, Twitter, and Facebook. Buy ‘Remember The Alamo’ from CD Baby, and stream on Spotify.
